Bill Johnson

BILL JOHNSON Natchez Trace Villas - Bill Johnson, 83, died Tuesday morning April 1, 2014, at the North Mississippi Medical Center after a lengthy illness. A Monroe County native, he was born November 30, 1930 to Irwin and Wilma Stanford Johnson. He was a 1948 Graduate of Tupelo High School and after completing his military duty, returned to further his education and received his degree in Business Administration from Mississippi State University. He served his country in the U. S. Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Boxer Aircraft Carrier. While serving in the Navy, he was awarded a number of medals and citations, including National Defense, United Nations, Korean Service, and China Service. He had a long and stellar career in sales and retired from Dura Containers in Fulton. Bill loved traveling and had traveled extensively throughout the world. Another of his favorite passions was gardening and working in his yard. He was an avid reader and also enjoyed studying and discussing the Bible. Along with his wife, He helped prepare the Thanksgiving meal for the Salvation Army, a feat they both participated in every year since the inception of the Tupelo Salvation Army. Graveside Services with Military Honors will be 11 a. m. Thursday at Tupelo Memorial Park with Dr. David Eldridge and Rev. Mark Cayson officiating. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Jennie Lynn Johnson of Saltillo; and three special friends, Anna Katherine Edwards, Jennifer Portell, and Lucille Johnson. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Vickie Lynn Johnson who preceded him in death, August 17, 1984. Pallbearers will be Carl Brandenberg, Bruce Parker, John Brady, Richard Hill, Jerry Burke, Eric Thompson, Tommy Boyd and Jerry Bristow. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at W. E. Pegues on Jefferson Street. Memorials may be made to the building fund for the shelter extension at the Salvation Army, 527 Carnation St., Tupelo, MS 38804, or to the building fund at Calvary Baptist Church, P. O. Box 1008, Tupelo, MS 38802.